Binary counting chain



June 17, 1958 G. R. PAUL v BINARY COUNTING CHAIN Filed Feb. 21, 1957 4lllh llmlllil a Unite rates BIN ARY COUNTING CHAIN Application February 21, 1957, Serial No. 641,744

Claims. (Cl. S15-84.5)

This invention relates to pulse counting circuits of the binary or scale of two type, and more particularly to a binary counting chain using gaseous diode tubes.

Scale of two counting circuits are well known and are extensively used in counting chains for counting electrical pulses at extremely rapid rates. Considerable developments are being made to simplify pulse counting chains `and the more recent developments have provided for the use of simple neon diode tubes for the counting and pulse registration functions. For example, in the copending patent application of Howard L. Foote, Serial No. 536,338, filed September 26, 1955, now Patent No.

. 2,822,471, a decimal counting chain employing neon gas tubes is disclosed. K

Itis a principal object-of this invention to provide an improvel pulse counting chain of the scale of two or binary type employing simple and reliable arrangements to coupe each preceding binary stage to each succeeding bin-ary stage.

It is another object of the invention to provide a puls-e counting chain of the binary type employing a plurality of tand em connected binary stages having gaseous diode registration devices and gaseous diode coupling devices between successive stages.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be `apparent in the following specification and drawing in which the sole figure is a schematic wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawing, a binary counting chain employing two scale of two or binary stages is disclosed with the rst binary stage comprised of gaseous discharge devices or tubes and 11 andthe second lbinary stage comprised of gaseous discharge devices or tu'bes 12 and 13. The devices 11i-13 in the particular embodiment of the invention being described may have at least two electrodes and, for example, may Ybe neon lamps of the typev designated NE96. NE96 diodes are constant voltage devices having characteristics which require a direct current potential of approximately at least one hundred and twenty-tive volts thereacross to initiate conduction, but which will sustain conduction with a direct current potenti-al thereacross having a minimum value of approximately sixty-ve to seventy volts. A suitable source of direct current 9 which energizes the circuits is connected across terminals 14 and 15 with the negative terminal at connected to chassis ground.V It should be understood that any number of binary stages, such fas that having diodes 10 and 11 or that-having diodes .12 and 13, may be connected in tandem to provide the ultimate pulse counting or scaling capacity. f

Eachof the gaseous diodes 11i-13 is connected across the positive and negative terminals 14 and 15 in series with respective ones of voltage dropping resistors 16-23, asshown. More in detail, the rst binary stage including diodes 10 and 11 is provided with voltage dropping resistors 16-19 with resistor 16v connected-from the p ositive voltage in line 24 to one electrode of Vdiode 10 and the resistor 17 connected from the other electrode of i 2,839,705? Patented June 17, 1958 diode 10 to the negative terminal 15 and chassis ground. Similarly, one electrode of diode 11 is connected through resistor 18 to the positive voltage in line 24 while the other electrode of diode 11 is connected through resistor 19 to chassis ground.

' Voltage pulses to be counted are connected across iny 18, 19 and 22, 23 provides a potential across tubes 11 and,

13 which exceeds their sustaining voltage characteristics.

The voltage pulses to be counted must have an amp-litude and polarity suicient to add to the voltage normally across any of the gas diodes 11i-13 when Ithey are not con-ducting` to provide :a total voltage exceeding the firing voltagel characteristics of such diodes. The application of the rst pulse to the input terminals 30, 31, upon being differentiated by the network including resistors 34 and 35 and capacitors 32 and 33, causes diode 10 to bec-ome conductive. Upon the decay of this pulse, diode 11 will be extinguished due to the negative pulse then developed momentarily across capacitor 38. The second voltage pulse of similar characteristics applied across terminals 30 and 31y during its rise in amplitude will have no effect on diode 10 since that diode is a constant voltage device and is then conducting. However, diode 11 Iagain becomes conductive due to the addition of the amplitude o-f the second pulse to the volt-age normally across diode 11. Also, due to the differentiating action provided by resistors 34, 35, together with capacitors 32, 33, a negative pulse will appear across capacitor 33 upon the deoay of the seco-nd vo-ltage pulse and diode 10 will be therelby extinguished. Thereafter, the third voltage pulse of similar characteristics to be applied across termin-als 30 and 31 will, wit-h only the diode 11 conductive, add .to the voltage across diode 10 and cause diode 1d to fire while the -decay of such voltage pulse will extinguish diode 11, as previously described. Thus, it will 'be seen that each successive voltage pulse vapplied across the in.- put terminals 30 and 31 causes diodesV 10 and 11 to 'become alternately and successively conductive and nonconductive. v

In order to provide a ybinary counting chain'employing a plurality of successive binary stages with each stage having a pair of gaseous registration tubes such as 11i,4 11 or 12, 13, a novel gaseous 4diode coupling network is used. The coupling network for coupling the 'binary stage, includ-ing d-io-des 10 and 1,1, to the 'binary stage including diodes 12 and 1.3, maybe comprised of the gaseous `diode -device 40 which may be a neon tube of the NE96 type. One lelectrode of the diode 40 is connected through resistor 41 to the positively connected electrode of diode 11 while the other electrode of diode 4) is connected through resistor 42 to t-he positively connected e-lectrode of diode 10. The values of resistors 41 and 42, together with resistors 16 19, are chosen such that the potential normally applied eacross diode 40 is less than its sustaining potential characteristic when only diode 10 ofthe binary pair, including diodes 1t) and 11, is conductive. On the other hand, the values are such that when diode 11 is` conductive and diode 10 is not c-onductive the potential applied acrossdiode 4i) exceeds its tiring potential charyacteristic so thatsuch-tube is then conductive.

- 31 are coupled by capacitor 50 to one electrode of the coupling diode 40 and by capacitors 53 and 51 from the other electrode of diode 40 to the input circuit for the second binary pair including diode tubes 12 and 13. Capacitor 51 lis provided with a resistor 52 to form a difierentiating input circuit for .the second binary pair. Thus, it will -be seen that each second voltage pulse to be counted as applied across a preceding binary pair, such as diodes and 11, is connected by the coupling circuits, such as that having the coupling tube 40, to the next succeeding binary pair including tubes 12 and 13. A similiar coupling network including a coupling diode tube 60, resistors 61, 62, and capacitors 63 and 64, is shown to couple the pulse from the second binary pair including diodes 12 and 13 to the next successive binary stage. Although lthe coupling diode tubes 40 or 60 are shown to be connected in a network between the positively connected electrodes of the binary pair diodes, it should be understood that such coupling networks could be connected between the negatively connected electrodes of each binary pair without departing from the spirit of the invention and assuming that the valuations ofthe components used are suitably adjusted to provide the required operating voltage conditions as will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art.

The following table of values is given for a typical operating circuit employing NE96 diodes for tubes l0-13, 40 and 60 with an applied direct current voltage of approximately one hundred and 'twenty-tive volts connected across terminals 14 and 15.

Resistor 34 megohms-- 1.1 Resistors 41, 42, 61, 62 do .l Resistor 35 ohms 3,000 Resistors 16, 20 do 50,000 Resistors 17, 2l do 1,000 Resistors 18, 22 do 15,000 Resistors 19, 23 do 5,000 Resistor 52 do -.8,000 Capacitors 32, 38, 50, 63, 65 microfarad..- .l Capacitors 51, 53, 64 do v .5 Capacitor 33 do .22

Various modifications may be made Within the spirit of the 'invention and the scope of 'the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a binary pulse counting chain having a plurality of binary stages in which each stage is comprised of an input circuit and a pair oi?Y electronic devices arranged to 'become alternately and successively conductive when Ycounting each pulse connected to the input circuit of the respective stage, Ithe coupling network for connecting a pulse to be counted between the respective input circuit of successive binary stages whenever a predetermined one-'of the devices of a respective stage is conductive comprising, a gaseous discharge tube for each stage having at least two electrodes and a minimum applied voltage characteristic for conduction, means connecting one electrode of a respective one of the tubes to ,one of the devices and the other electrode of the respective tube to the `other of the devices of a given stage in a circuit to provide a potential across each tube that is greater than said minimum voltage characteristic only when a predetermined one olf the devices of a respective stage is conductive, means to connect the pulses to ibe counted from the input circuit of one stage t-o one electrode of said tube, and means to connect the other electrode of said tube to the pulse input circuit of the next successive stage.

2. In a binary pulse counting chain 'having a plurality of binary stages in which each stage is comprisedvof an input circuit and a pair of electronic devices arranged to to become alternately and successively conductive when counting each pulse connected to the input circuit of the respective stage, the coupling network for connecting a pulse to be counted between the respective input circuit of successive binary stages whenever a predetermined one of the devices of a respective stage is conductive cornprising, a gaseous Vdischarge diode for each stage having a minimum applied voltage characteristic for conduction, means connecting one electrode of a respective one of 'the diodes to one of the devices and the other electrode of the respective diode to the other of the devices of a given stage in a circuit to provide a potential across each diode that is greater than said minimum voltage characteristic only when a predetermined one of the devices of a respective stage is conductive, means to connect the pulses to 'be counted from the input circuit of one stage to one electrode of said diode, and means to connect the other electrode of said diode to the pulse input circuit of ythe next successive stage.

3. In a binary pulse counting chain having a plurality of binary stages in which each stage is comprised of an input circuit .and a pair of electronic devices arranged to become alternately and successively conductive when ycounting each pulse connected to the input circuit of the respective stage, the coupling network for connecting a pulse to be counted between the respective input circuit of -successive binary stages whenever a predetermined one of the devices of a respective stage is conductive comprising, a gaseous discharge tube for each stage having at least two electrodes and a iirst applied voltage characteristie for conduction and a lower applied voltage characteristic for sustaining conduction, means connecting one electrode of -a respective one of the tubes to one of the devices and the other electrodeof the respective tube to the other of the devices of a given stage in a circuit to provide a potential across Veach tube Vthat is greater than said first voltage characteristic only when a predetermined one of the devices of a respective-stage is conductive and is less than the sustaining voltage characteristic of the respective tube when the other of said devices is conductive, means to connect the pulses to be counted from the input circuit of one stage to one electrode of said tube, and means to connect the other electrode of said tube to the pulse input circuit of the. next successive stage.

4. In a 'binary pulse counting chain having a plurality of binary stages in which each stage is comprised of an input circuit and a pair of electronic devices arranged to become alternate-ly and successively conductive when counting e-ach pulse connected to the input circuit of the respective stage, the coupling network for connecting a pulse to be counted between the respective input circuit of successive binary stages Vwhenever a predetermined onev of the devices of a respective stage is conductive comprising, a gaseous discharge diode for each stage having a iirst applied voltage characteristic for conduction and a lower applied Voltage Vcharacteristic for sustaining conduction, means connecting oner electrode of a respective Ione of the diodes to one of the devices and the'other electrode of the respective diode to the other of the devices of a given stage in a circuit to provide a potential across each diode that is greater than said minimum voltage characteristic only when a predetermined one of the device-s of a respective stage is conductive and is less than the sustaining voltage characteristic of the respective tube when the other of said devices is conductive, meansV to conne-ct the pulses -to be counted from the input circuit of one stagev of one electrode of said diode, and means to connect the other electrode of said diode to i the pulse input circuit of the next successive stage.

5. A scale of-'two pulse counting circuit comprising a plurality of gaseous discharge conductive devices of the type having at least two electrodes and a minimum voltage characteristic for initiating conduction and a lower minimum voltage characteristic for sustaining conduction, a voltage source, means connecting two of said devices across said source in a manner to apply a voltage across the electrodes of each of said two devices that is higher than their sustaining voltage characteristic but rlower than their initiating voltage characteristic, pulse in- Lanother of s-aid'devices to onefgeiec'trod'e of one of said two devices and the other eiect'rode of said another device to one elect-rode of theofther of said two devices in a m-anner to provide aV voltage across said another de vice that is higher than its initiating voltage characteristic only when a predetermined one of 'said -two devices is conductive and is lowerv than its sustaining voltage characteristic only when a predetermined other one of said two devices is `conductive, and means connecting said input terminals to said output termi said another device.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Crenshaw Feb. 13, 'Hagen June 26, Holden Jan. 22, Mulliarkey Jian. 27, Faulkner Oct. 2, Sharin Feb. 19,

Ruhlig Apr. 23,

nals in series with 

